Saft secures $1.3m funding from BAE Systems for development of energy storage system

Manufacturer of advanced technology batteries Saft has secured $1.3m in funding from British multinational defense company BAE Systems to continue development of Lithium–ion energy storage system for the US Army’s Ground Combat Vehicle (GCV) program.

The Li-ion energy storage solutions (ESS), comprised of ultra-high-power, high-voltage VL 5U cells will support the GCV's electric drive system when the vehicle is not running on gasoline.

Saft will now join Northrop Grumman, iRobot, MTU, and Qinetiq North America on the BAE Systems GCV team working on the development phase of the program.

This phase has a 24-month term with the objective of completing a preliminary design reviews to build prototype before the engineering and manufacturing phases kick in.

Commenting on the funding Saft general manager for specialty battery group Tom Alcide acknowledged BAE's long-standing support towards its expertise.

The GCV is a military vehicle prototype that is a nine-man Infantry Carrier contains emerging technologies such as lightweight armor composites and electronics for which Saft has supplied advanced energy storage solutions.